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With four more human deaths in China, the death toll from H7N9 has reached 31, and 129 people have been infected since March, according to Chinese health officials. Transmission from poultry to humans has been confirmed. No evidence of human-to-human transmission exists, but 40% of infected people had no known direct exposure to poultry. According to the CDC, the current form of H7N9 will not cause a pandemic, but if it mutates, it could pose a serious global threat.

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The World Health Organization reported an additional 23 cases of human infection with H7N9 influenza on Monday. Some new patients reported recent exposure to poultry, and there has been no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus, according to the WHO. The number of flu cases in the country may rise as many people travel for the upcoming Chinese New Year, the agency noted.

Six additional cases of infection with influenza A H7N9 virus and one death were confirmed by Chinese health officials. The World Health Organization said the recent cases involved patients ages 28 to 78 who were exposed to poultry, and a 65-year-old man previously reported with the illness has died. The source of the infection is still under investigation, but health officials said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus.

With no new human cases reported since May 8, the H7N9 avian influenza outbreak appears to have slowed, but scientists have confirmed the pathogen has evolved since it was first detected in March and is closer to being easily transmissible between humans. Most infected people contracted the disease through contact with live poultry. Closing certain markets and culling birds has helped stem the spread of disease. To date, H7N9 is known to have infected 131 people, 36 of whom have died.

H7N9, the influenza strain that has killed nine people in China in recent weeks, may be growing more virulent, said Richard Webby of the World Health Organization. "If this is let spread from where it is now, it will evolve further. That's what viruses do," he said. Although human-to-human transmission hasn't been seen, scientists have uncovered signs of genetic diversity in the strain. Researchers continue to try to isolate the environmental sources of infection, but they need more data on the lives of China's birds in markets, on farms and in the wild, according to Maria Zambon, director of the U.K.'s national influenza center.

Infections involving avian H7N9 influenza have been confirmed in humans for the first time. Three people in China have been infected with the avian flu subtype. Two of them died, and the third is in critical condition. The illness has not be found in 88 people who had contact with the three patients, and human-to-human transmission is not considered likely, according to the World Health Organization.